2338. Hon Alison Xamon to the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to the Telethon Kids Institute (TKI) research at Banksia Hill Detention Centre (Banksia Hill), and I ask:
(a) subsequent to the completion of TKI’s fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) research project, has the Department of Justice facilitated the provision of any FASD diagnostic or assessment services for children and young people at Banksia Hill;
(b) if yes to (a):
(i) how many children and young people in Banksia Hill have been assessed in 2019; and
(ii) how many children and young people from (b) (i) have been diagnosed with FASD;
(c) if no to (a), why not;
(d) are any specific interventions for young people identified with FASD or other neurocognitive impairment currently being provided at Banksia Hill;
(e) if yes to (d):
(i) what interventions are being delivered;
(ii) do the interventions include speech therapy; and
(iii) who delivers the interventions;
(f) if no to (d), why not;
(g) is any further research by TKI in youth justice services currently being undertaken or considered; and
(h) if yes to (g), please provide details?
Hon Stephen Dawson replied:
(a) Yes.
(b) (i) 17
(ii) 13
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Yes.
(e)
(i) Young people’s neurodevelopmental disorders are taken into consideration when designing programmatic and counselling interventions in Banksia Hill Detention Centre. That is, integrating strengths and weaknesses from the assessment reports, and to deliver interventions that target identified needs (i.e. helping young people manage their emotions more effectively).
(ii) Yes.
(iii) Departmental Psychologists and Speech Pathologists from the Department of Communities – Disability Services.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Yes.
(h) Research projects with a Youth Justice aspect currently being undertaken by TKI and with the support of the Department include:
Investigation of parental mental health among Aboriginal population in Western Australia and its impact on children’s outcomes;
Public health approach to child abuse and neglect: antecedents and outcomes;
A feasibility study of screening, diagnosis and workforce development to improve the management of youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the justice system. (This is the FASD research project at Banksia Hill which is ongoing);
Childhood developmental pathways to educational achievement in WesternAustralia: A multilevel data linkage study;
Alcohol related harm in young people;
Exploring health and justice outcomes in Aboriginal children: a 16-year follow-up study of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey cohort using data linkage; and
Infant removals by child protection.